CST NIST Handbook 44 Standards 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: NIST HB 44 requires that vehicle scales have a minimum division (d) value of no greater than:
- 2 lb
- 5 lb
- 10 lb (Correct answer)
- 20 lb
Correct answer: 10 lb
For vehicle scales used in commercial transactions, NIST HB 44 specifies that the value of the scale division (d) shall not exceed 20 lb, with 10 lb being the common requirement for accuracy class purposes.
Question 2: Under NIST HB 44, a 'tare' is best defined as:
- The gross weight of a loaded vehicle
- A weight subtracted from the gross weight to obtain net weight (Correct answer)
- The minimum test weight for a scale
- The weight of the test load applied during calibration
Correct answer: A weight subtracted from the gross weight to obtain net weight
Tare is a weight (such as a container or vehicle) that is subtracted from the gross weight to yield the net weight of the commodity being sold.
Question 3: According to NIST HB 44, which statement is correct regarding automatic zero-tracking (AZT)?
- AZT may operate at any rate to continuously correct the zero
- AZT is limited in rate and range to prevent it from masking real load changes (Correct answer)
- AZT must be disabled during all official testing
- AZT applies only to scales with digital indicators
Correct answer: AZT is limited in rate and range to prevent it from masking real load changes
HB 44 limits automatic zero-tracking rate and range so it cannot compensate for actual weight being placed on the scale, ensuring measurement integrity.
Question 4: Which section of NIST HB 44 covers 'Scales' specifically, including retail, vehicle, and crane scales?
- Section 1.10
- Section 2.20
- Section 2.20 and its subsections (Correct answer)
- Appendix D
Correct answer: Section 2.20 and its subsections
NIST HB 44 Section 2.20 and its lettered subsections (2.20.1 through 2.20.8) address scales including general code, retail, vehicle, livestock, and crane scales.
Question 5: A scale has a capacity of 1,000 lb with a division of 0.5 lb. How many scale divisions does this device have?
- 500
- 1,000
- 2,000 (Correct answer)
- 5,000
Correct answer: 2,000
The number of scale divisions equals capacity divided by division size: 1,000 ÷ 0.5 = 2,000 divisions.
Question 6: Under NIST HB 44, the 'repeatability test' requires that:
- A single test load is applied once and removed
- The same load is applied and removed multiple times to check consistency of readings (Correct answer)
- Different loads are applied in ascending order
- The scale is zeroed between each different test load only
Correct answer: The same load is applied and removed multiple times to check consistency of readings
The repeatability test involves applying and removing the same test load multiple times to verify that the scale consistently returns the same reading.
Question 7: NIST HB 44 specifies that a 'certificate of conformance' or type approval is required before a new device model can be:
- Repaired by any technician
- Placed into commercial service in a jurisdiction adopting HB 44 (Correct answer)
- Used for internal factory weighing only
- Inspected by state weights and measures officials
Correct answer: Placed into commercial service in a jurisdiction adopting HB 44
Type approval (NTEP Certificate of Conformance) is required before a device model may be legally used for commercial weighing transactions in jurisdictions that adopt NIST HB 44.
CST NIST Handbook 44 Standards 3
NIST HB 44 requires that vehicle scales have a minimum division (d) value of no greater than: